Oil-rich Kazakhstan is the wealthiest and geographically the largest of the Central Asian States. It is the only country in the region, as well as the only Muslim majority country, to hold the Chairmanship of the OSCE. Since its independence in 1991, Kazakhstan has been ruled by President Nursultan Nazaarbayev, who in 2011 was declared leader of the nation for life. Although Kazakhstan has a vibrant civil society, there has been backward movement on human rights over the past years. Media and the Internet have been restricted, political opposition has been stifled, and freedom of religion limited through a series of new legislation ostensibly aimed at preventing extremism and terrorism. The OSCE established the Centre in Astana in 1998; the mandate has been revised to create the current Program Office in Astana. The OSCE has observed national elections in Kazakhstan since 1999, although none have been found to have been held in accordance with international standards.

The Helsinki Commission has followed developments in Kazakhstan closely since its independence in 1991, and particularly examining the human rights situation in the country in the run-up to the Kazakhstani Chairmanship of the OSCE in 2010. The Commission held a hearing with then Foreign Minister Saudabayev when he was Chairman-in-Office. The Commission also held a hearing examining the violence in Zhanaozen in 2012.